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Kentucky Derby post positions: Full draw and odds for the 2024 Triple Crown race | Sporting News Canada

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Kentucky Derby post positions: Full draw and odds for the 2024 Triple Crown race | Sporting News Canada

Go out and buy those mint leaves now. It’s just about time for the Kentucky Derby.

It’s that time of the year again when horse racing gallops into the national spotlight of the sports world as all eyes will turn to Churchill Downs. The iconic race, which will be having its 150th running, is only a week away. 

But before fans can start getting their bets lined up, they have to know which horses are going to be in the running — and where. The post positions were announced Saturday during the gate draw, as well as opening odds for each of the horses.

How will the horses line up for the The Most Exciting Two Minutes In Sports? Here’s what you need to know about the sesquicentennial edition of the Kentucky Derby.

Kentucky Derby post positions 2024

The draw for the Kentucky Derby was held Saturday, April 27. 

Here is where each horse will be starting, including odds for each horse to win the race.

Post Position Horse Odds
1 Dornoch 20-1
2 Sierra Leone 3-1
3 Mystik Dan 20-1
4 Catching Freedom 8-1
5 Catalytic 30-1
6 Just Steel 20-1
7 Honor Marie 20-1
8 Just a Touch 10-1
9 T O Password 30-1
10 Forever Young 10-1
11 Track Phantom 20-1
12 West Saratoga 50-1
13 Endlessly 30-1
14 Domestic Product 30-1
15 Grand Mo the First 50-1
16 Fierceness 5-2
17 Stronghold 20-1
18 Resilience 20-1
19 Society Man 50-1
20 Epic Ride 30-1

What is the best pole position in horse racing?

There is no right answer for the best pole position. The locations have different advantages and disadvantages based on the horses and the races.

Horses have a shorter path to the finish with the lower post numbers, but the fence and all other horses give less room to maneuver on the inside. Higher numbers get out of the gate faster and have more space on the outside, but have longer races to run.

For the most part, the lower numbers have been the best. The most winners have come from the No. 5 gate, nine have come from No. 10 and No. 8, while eight have come each from No. 1 and No. 7. After the 10th gate, the only double digit with more than five wins is No. 15 at six.

Here is the history of how many winners came from at each post position since the starting game was opened in 1930:

Post Position Kentucky Derby Winners
1 8
2 7
3 5
4 5
5 10
6 2
7 8
8 9
9 4
10 9
11 2
12 3
13 5
14 2
15 6
16 4
17 0
18 2
19 1
20 2

Kentucky Derby winners by post position

In 2022, Rich Strike made history as the second horse to win coming out of the No. 20 gate. Big Brown, back in 2008, was the first to accomplish the feat.

The only gate to have never produced a winner is No. 17. The No. 19 gate is the only one with just a single winner, which happened back in 2012 with I’ll Have Another taking the derby.

Below is a list of all of the winners at each gate since 1930.

  • 1 — (8) Ferdinand (1986); Chateaugay (1963); Needles (1956); Hill Gail (1952); Citation (1948); Gallahadion (1940); Lawrin (1938); War Admiral (1937)
  • 2 — (7) Affirmed (1978); Bold Forbes (1976); Cannonade (1974); Dust Commander (1970); Tim Tam (1958); Ponder (1949) Assault (1946)
  • 3 — (5) Real Quiet (1998); Alysheba (1987); Spectacular Bid (1979); Foolish Pleasure (1975); Shut Out (1942)
  • 4 — (5) Super Saver (2010); Seattle Slew (1977); Decidedly (1962); Pensive (1944); Whirlaway (1941)
  • 5 — (10) Always Dreaming (2017); California Chrome (2014); Funny Cide (2003); War Emblem (2002); Silver Charm (1997); Strike the Gold (1991); Count Fleet (1943); Johnstown (1939); Bold Venture (1936); Twenty Grand (1931)
  • 6 — (2) Sea Hero (1993); Iron Liege (1957)
  • 7 — (8) Mandaloun (2021); Justify (2018); Street Sense (2007); Pleasant Colony (1981); Proud Clarion (1967); Northern Dancer (1964); Determine (1954); Gallant Fox (1930)
  • 8 — (9) Mage (2023); Mine That Bird (2009); Barbaro (2006); Go for Gin (1994); Unbridled (1990); Majestic Prince (1969); Lucky Debonair (1965); Swaps (1955); Cavalcade (1934)
  • 9 — (4) Riva Ridge (1972); Venetian Way (1960); Tomy Lee (1959); Count Turf (1951)
  • 10 — (9) Giacomo (2005); Lil E. Tee (1992); Sunday Silence (1989); Spend a Buck (1985); Sunny’s Halo (1983); Genuine Risk (1980); Secretariat (1973); Dark Star (1953); Omaha (1935)
  • 11 — (2) Winning Colors (1988); Brokers Tip (1933)
  • 12 — (3) Canonero II (1971); Kauai King (1966); Hoop Jr. (1945)
  • 13 — (4) Nyquist (2016) Smarty Jones (2004); Forward Pass (1968); Jet Pilot (1947); Burgoo King (1932)
  • 14 — (2) Carry Back (1961); Middleground (1950)
  • 15 — (6) Authentic (2020); American Pharoah (2015); Orb (2013); Fusaichi Pegasus (2000); Grindstone (1996); Swale (1984)
  • 16 — (4) Animal Kingdom (2011); Monarchos (2001); Charismatic (1999); Thunder Gulch (1995)
  • 17 — (0)
  • 18 — (2) Country House (2019); Gato Del Sol (1982)
  • 19 — (1) I’ll Have Another (2012)
  • 20 — (2) Rich Strike (2022); Big Brown (2008)
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